Barry was a bit concerned about the long trip from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang but I was really looking forward to it. When faced with the choice of an expensive flight direct from Chiang Mai (on an airline that had recently crashed into the Mekong), I know which option I was always going to go with (also I promised mum not to fly with said airline).
Friday 13 December, the day our Thai visas expired, and we were up at the crack of dawn to get an early bus to Chiang Rai, the first of many legs in the day’s journey. We really needed to get on the 8am bus in order to be at the border crossing well before 6pm, when we were told it closes for the night. Unfortunately, we didn’t get on the 8am bus. It was sold out by the time we arrived at the station at 7.30am.